Painting Abstracts: Ideas, Projects and Techniques (Paperback)

by Rolina van Vliet (Author)
Key Phrases: secondary picture elements, free residual space, active focal area, Picture Line, Tips Variation, Materials Acrylic (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"If you’re intrigued by the subject but don’t feel you know where to start, then this book will help you a long way towards the end of the road."  —Artbookreview.net

Product Description

Full instructions for 65 abstract paintings are provided in this guide that urges beginners to plunge right in, learning about composition, theme, and design while they paint. The history of abstract painting and its importance as a means of self-expression are covered in the guide's beginning pages, and each of the paintings that follow conventional step-by-step instruction is replaced with information on composition, imagery, method, materials, and technique, allowing the painter to copy straight from the book—or make changes according to the flow of creativity.

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Product Details Paperback: 168 pages Publisher: Search Press; illustrated edition edition (November 1, 2008) Language: English ISBN-10: 1844483363 ISBN-13: 978-1844483365 Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 8.7 x 0.7 inches Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies) Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (14 customer reviews) Amazon.com Sales Rank: #7,313 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books) Popular in these categories: (What's this?) #1 in  Books > Arts & Photography > Painting > Watercolor #2 in  Books > Arts & Photography > Instructional & How-To > Watercolor Painting #2 in  Books > Arts & Photography > Painting > Instructional

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Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
secondary picture elements, free residual space, active focal area, oil pastel chalk, surface division, passive areas, oil pastel crayon, fine paint brush, covering fluid, acrylic paper, pure paint, watery paint, watercolour paint, mixed technique, monochrome colours, next colour, texture technique, transparent paint, acrylic medium, acrylic paint

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Picture Line, Tips Variation, Materials Acrylic, Composition Materials Technique Work, Picture Shape, Picture Colour, Materials Painting, Technique Direct, Materials Canvas, Technique Knife, Materials Paper, Technique Texture, Technique Mixing, Palette Knife

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	60% buy the item featured on this page: Painting Abstracts: Ideas, Projects and Techniques 4.2 out of 5 stars (14) $17.13
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Customer Reviews

14 Reviews 5 star:  (10) 4 star:    (0) 3 star:  (1) 2 star:  (3) 1 star:    (0)           Average Customer Review 4.2 out of 5 stars (14 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews 22 of 23 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Best Instructional Art Book Ever, October 2, 2008 By  D. Oliver (West Palm Beach, FL) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    I love this book. I would recommend it to anyone who wants some instruction in abstract art. Very easy to follow & all kinds of ways to use all sorts of media. 27 of 31 people found the following review helpful: 3.0 out of 5 stars No 'right' recipe , October 22, 2008 By  S. J. Bockett (Wellington New Zealand) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    For me, this book is too formulaic; it is more about "getting it right" than about awakening creative inspiration. While it is true that the abstract artist needs a good grasp of design, this is not the essence of abstract art; it is a medium for expressing intangibles visually. If you believe a 'paint by numbers' kind of approach will give you confidence to begin, by all means start with Painting Abstracts. But if you want your abstracts to sing, I would recommend working from Mary Todd Beam's book, "Celebrate Your Creative Self." (She also has a new book coming out in March of 2009.) For me, all the examples in "Painting Abstracts" have the same emotional temperature and use exactly the same visual metaphors. To get the idea of different visual metaphors, I would recommend looking at works by artists using other mediums, especially fibre artists and ceramic artists. What I most find missing in this book is help with awakening inspiration: in the texture of rocks and leaves and trees for example, in different moods of water. Have you ever looked at a sunset that made you gasp? No doubt we cannot all aspire to creating the same emotional impact, but it is possible to put some of that feeling into an abtract painting. Look further than this book if you want to do more than know how to handle your medium or how to create a pleasant design. Postscript April 20th 2009: It is worthwhile to read Pamela Blunt's rebuttal of my review in the comments, as well as my reply. (Incidently, I gave her a 'yes' vote, even though she completely disagrees with me.) Both our comments encapsulate the two different ways of approaching abstract art. I am sure folks are more than capable of deciding which way they want to go. 10 of 10 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for learning abstracts, February 10, 2009 By  Paulette Boyt "PBoyt" (Kansas) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    I really love this book about abstracts. Lots of pictures to inspire you. But even better are the exercises using specific tools and/or paints and techniques, but without an actual picture to copy. For a beginner, I found them quite challenging. I discovered painting abstracts is not as easy as it looks. I'm still learning and trying from this book.		Ad feedback   Most Recent Customer Reviews 2.0 out of 5 stars There are definitely better... After receiving and drooling over Rethinking Acrylics, this book pales. No information on how to use today's modern art products - really very limited. Read more Published 10 days ago by Sherrill Pearson 5.0 out of 5 stars painting abstracts I really enjoyed this book. I felt that this book help open up my mind to doing art a little differantly. Read more Published 16 days ago by Clarrissa Pettijohn 5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book for beginners ! If you are looking for a book which takes you through the nuances of abstract art without curbing your indviduality, this is a book to pick. Read more Published 25 days ago by Sophia Jacob 5.0 out of 5 stars Painting Abstracts: Ideas, Projects and Techniques This is a great book for anyone interested in developing their skills of creating abstract paintings. Read more Published 1 month ago by N. Jones 5.0 out of 5 stars WONDERFUL I have an after school art program for elementary and middle school age artists! I am always looking for new and different ideas..... Read more Published 1 month ago by Lisa Parks 2.0 out of 5 stars More mechanical than educational or inspirational This is way too mechanical for my taste. I would like to know some of the thinking and/or inspiration that drives abstract painting. Read more Published 1 month ago by Seabreeeze 2.0 out of 5 stars Say what? esoteric and not very interesting.read a chapter or two and shrugged, "o, well," and moved on.... Published 3 months ago by SUE COLE 5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent book A book I thoroughly enjoyed. Everything is very clear, very well set out. I have already recommended it to a number of my painting friends. Published 5 months ago by B. Robin 5.0 out of 5 stars great resource I am a fiber artist and bought this book to help me in my abstract work. It doesn't disappoint. This book is an excellent resource on the topic. Published 7 months ago by Lynn Krawczyk 5.0 out of 5 stars Painting Abstracts: Ideas, Projects and Techniques Excellent book. Good approach to trying paintings and good information shared with reader at appropriate points in book. Read more Published 8 months ago by M. Coleman Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews

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Product Details

• Paperback: 168 pages
• Publisher: Search Press; illustrated edition edition (November 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1844483363
• ISBN-13: 978-1844483365
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 8.7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #7,313 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #1 in	Books > Arts & Photography > Painting > Watercolor
  #2 in	Books > Arts & Photography > Instructional & How-To > Watercolor Painting
  #2 in	Books > Arts & Photography > Painting > Instructional

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Instructional Art Book Ever, October 2, 2008

By	D. Oliver (West Palm Beach, FL) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I love this book. I would recommend it to anyone who wants some instruction in abstract art. Very easy to follow & all kinds of ways to use all sorts of media.

27 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars No 'right' recipe , October 22, 2008

By	S. J. Bockett (Wellington New Zealand) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

For me, this book is too formulaic; it is more about "getting it right" than about awakening creative inspiration. While it is true that the abstract artist needs a good grasp of design, this is not the essence of abstract art; it is a medium for expressing intangibles visually.

If you believe a 'paint by numbers' kind of approach will give you confidence to begin, by all means start with Painting Abstracts. But if you want your abstracts to sing, I would recommend working from Mary Todd Beam's book, "Celebrate Your Creative Self." (She also has a new book coming out in March of 2009.)

For me, all the examples in "Painting Abstracts" have the same emotional temperature and use exactly the same visual metaphors. To get the idea of different visual metaphors, I would recommend looking at works by artists using other mediums, especially fibre artists and ceramic artists.

What I most find missing in this book is help with awakening inspiration: in the texture of rocks and leaves and trees for example, in different moods of water. Have you ever looked at a sunset that made you gasp? No doubt we cannot all aspire to creating the same emotional impact, but it is possible to put some of that feeling into an abtract painting.

Look further than this book if you want to do more than know how to handle your medium or how to create a pleasant design.

Postscript April 20th 2009:
It is worthwhile to read Pamela Blunt's rebuttal of my review in the comments, as well as my reply. (Incidently, I gave her a 'yes' vote, even though she completely disagrees with me.) Both our comments encapsulate the two different ways of approaching abstract art. I am sure folks are more than capable of deciding which way they want to go.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for learning abstracts, February 10, 2009

By	Paulette Boyt "PBoyt" (Kansas) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I really love this book about abstracts. Lots of pictures to inspire you. But even better are the exercises using specific tools and/or paints and techniques, but without an actual picture to copy. For a beginner, I found them quite challenging. I discovered painting abstracts is not as easy as it looks. I'm still learning and trying from this book.